Means for applying work upon lithographic plates



Jan. 3, 1939. s. A. NEIDICH 2,142,250

MEANS FOR APPLYING WORK UPON LITHOGRAPHIC PLATES Filed Oct. 11, 1935 W/TNESSES INVENTOR,

i I szgnuelA Nadia/z Patented Jan. 3, 1939 Samuel MEANS FOR APPLYING..WORK

- 1 LITHOGRAPHIC PLA ES-- A. Nei di'chfventnor cm". Nil, asigner was r to Underwood Elliott Fisher Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application October 11, 1935, Serial No. 44,479

4 Claims.

N This invention relates to the preparation of a platev for use in lithographic printing. The plate is usually a paper-thin sheet of zinc or other metal; being flexible for fitting to the cylinder ofa lithographic press.

Ihe invention relates largely to depicting a drawing upon the plate, such drawing sometimes being in the nature of ruled-lines thatare accompanied by lines of typing, which will be more fully explained'hereinafter. The invention is distinguished from the usual depiction ofan image complete upon a paperitself, which is then ,The offset roller receives pression from-the zinc plate.

,' display the original drawing of the zinc plate,

sheet, for subsequent transfer. to .the zinc plate.

The inventionirelates to-originatingthe drawing and/or other matter directly upon the plate fastened around the cylinder of a lithographic machine having an offset roller.

the lithographic im- .made,from contact with said ofiset roller, and

- without reversal. 1 1

,A-feature of the invention, therefore, dealswith placing the desired matter in normal form,

directly. upon the zinc or other plate: I

The invention combines with the zinc plate a novel template sheet to serve as a paper-facing.

This template facing may be satisfactorily held orsecured to the zinc plate. It consists partly of a thin carbon-faced paper of about the same dimensions as the zinc plate. The pressure of a stylus causes lines of carbon from the paper to be made upon the zinc plate; the carbon being very hard and the lines being clear and durable.

The zinc plate may be placed upon a carriage which may move from right to left, and also vertically, while the stylus remains stationary; thus producing horizontal and vertical ruling upon the zinc plate. When the zinc plate thus prepared is placed in a lithographic machine, copies can be produced having the horizontal and vertical ruling. The carbon from the template facing is made to co-operate with the usual lithographic dampening and inking devices in the lithographic press.

At this point it will have been perceived that the operation of ruling the lines upon the zinc plate, by means of the carriage, the ordinary stylus, and the carbon-coated paper-facing thereof, would be a blind operation and therefore lack practicality for quick and cheap ofiice use, but the invention is rounded out by the incorporation therein of provision for causing every line thatis pressed by the blind stylus to be immediately and fully visible to the operator, even Paper copies are though every line is produced which is covered by the hence is out of sight.

According to this invention,

upon the zinc, plate carbon-paper lacing, and

thetpaperfacing for the zinc plate is completedby the use of a second tissue sheet, viz. tervenes between the backed sheet.

,an outer sh'eetwhich instylus and the? carbon-- This outer sheet is directly impinged upon by the point of theblindj stylus, for

the purpose of altering its blind ope ationfinto a completely visible "operation; thisfefiect'jbeing produced by coating th with soft carbon. Hence, mal image which the carbonflihes,

upon the zinc plate, the

a reversed image upon e ront. ofithe' inner, sheet in vadditio to the normf l lr t re is made ltaneously the back of" theiouter sheet, consisting also of carbon-line's. The'oute'r sheet is sufliciently transpicuousfto' enable the lines thereon to 'be easily visible to 'th'eoperator, who sees'in'normal form and conditionj'theirnage which is produced in reverse formuponthe back of said outer or reading sheet.

The assembly includes the zinc plate, andthe two-ply paper-facing, the plies being attached to each other and to'th'e zi nc' plate.

The outer sheet or ply 'bei' g attached to the zinc plate, the-operator said outer sheet and every or artist may drawupon line will'be' depicted with fidelity and in exactly the same place oil the zinc plate.

Hence the artist can build up an image, joining his lines perfectly and makin each one of the right one properly from the proceed with his drawing upon length, and spacing each next; and otherwiseean the outer ply (the reading sheet) with every assurance'that the identical result is likewise plate. The translucent appearing 'upon the zinc sheet combines' therefore with the soft carbon-faced inner sheet to provide the correlated line or lines.

not have 'to work in the line, as it is being drawn, aid the artist in drawing Thus the artist does dark, nor to depend upon memory, or guess-work. The combined sheets being fixed to the zinc plate, the artist isplaced in as good a position as if he didhis work directly upon the zinc plate itself, while the hard under-carbon servesexcellently for the lines pressedupon the zinc plate. 7

In the lithographic custom to rule or draw or plate otherwise than'by pen or crayon directly art it has not been the upon a lithographic'stone placirigjthepoint of thereupon. It has been suggested to produce lines 'of typing directly upon a lithographic plate by the usual woven fabric the use of a ribbon. But ribbon 'wouidj-be found to be too coarse to be acceptable for the purpose, and the proposed paper-ribbon would be found defective for typing, as hereinafter explained, besides being unavailable for covering the lithographic page with the desired full-page ruling or drawing.

By the use of a ribbon, it would be impracticable to produce account-sheets and other sheets full of intricate ruled lines, some of which are accompanied by typed memoranda, although it has been proposed to introduce a. zinc plate into a typewriting machine and type the desired memoranda thereon by the use. of a carbon-coated paper-ribbon, it is manifest that nothing could be produced except typewritten matter. But a zinc plate having nothing on it but typewritten matter, and devoid of ruled lines, would have only a very limited use, and hardly any use at all for accounting purposes. It would be impracticable to produce ruled lines upon one plate, and make lithographic copies therefrom, and then to produce typewritten matter upon another plate and produce lithographic copies therefrom; for a ruled accounting sheet, having no typewritingfcould not be practically combined with a typed sheet having no ruling.

Moreover, even in attempting to produce a simple typed zinc lithographic plate, the proposed paper-ribbon would be found to be seriously defective, if not fatally so.

The ribbon-feed for the proposed carbonized paper-ribbon would have to be enlarged, to enable each type-impression on the ribbon to clear the preceding impression.

In attempting to secure perfect results from a carbon-paper ribbon, it would be necessary to use the ribbon only once, so that each latter may type upon a new surface. A lengthy ribbon would therefore be necessary. This would mean that mammoth spools must be employed; which would be unsightly and awkward and bulky, needing auxiliary feeding mechanism, and adding to complication and expense. The machine would be inconvenient for ordinary oflice use, for correspondence typing.

In order to obtain a clean imprint from the carbon-paper ribbon, one spool would always have to be the paying-off spool. Hence it would become necessary either to rewind the paperribbon manually onto the paying-off spool, in order to begin using the ribbon at the same end as before, or the ribbon-spools would have to be removed from the machine and interchanged. In any case, the paper-ribbon would not rewind upon the paying-off spool as tightly as at the original factory winding of the spool. Hence the ribbon, during its second and subsequent endwise travels, would unwind irregularly, and it would not insure positively the presentation of an entirely fresh carbon surface for every type-impression. The typedmpressions would overlap on the ribbon, these strike overs" impairing the quality of the impressions on the zinc plate,

Each re-winding of the carbon-paper ribbon, or each interchanging of the spools, would necessitate the re-threading of the carbon-paper ribbon through the eyes of the ribbon-vibrator in the typewriting machine, and the paper would easily tear and waste,

Moreover, the use of either a woven ink-ribbon or a paper-carbon ribbon would render it necessary to encase the rolls and other paperfeed mechanism or parts with a protecting floss, to save the highly sensitized surface of the zinc plate from being scratched or marred while being adjusted in the typewriter and during the type- Writing operations.

By this invention, the defects above noted are overcome, and hence, besides making ruled forms and depicting other line-work upon the zinc plate, the invention may be employed, for example, in producing the typed matter within the border lines that are drawn by the stylus upon the zinc plate, and the typed matter may be produced by the use of a typewriting machine in which remains the same ruled sheet with its template, the type-impressions being made directly upon the transpicuous template, so that the operator can readily locate the typewritten matter in the precise relation to the previously ruled border or other ruled lines. The wording is, of course, typed in reverse upon the back of the transpicuous or reading sheet or template, but the typing is at all times easily visible to the operator through said sheet; while the typeimpressions made upon the zinc plate are sharp and perfect, and they overcome in every way the objections which have heretofore been found to the use of other methods of typewriter duplication.

The surface of the zinc or other metal plate is quite susceptible to marring and other injury from contact with the rolls and other parts of the typewriting machine, and it is especially subject to such damage in machines in which it is attempted to type on the paper by means of a carbon-paper ribbon; the entire surface of the platen being continually exposed to contact with parts of the machine and to accidental contact with the operators hands. Therefore, it is a feature of the invention to protect the entire lithographic surface of the metal plate from contact with the hands of the operator or with any parts of the typewriting machine; and this protection is efiected by means of the transpicuous sheet and the under layer of tissue-carbon-coated paper facing, the middle portion of which under layer is coated with the hardest of lithographic carbon. The broad top and bottom borders of the facing are however uncoated, so that the fingers of the operator may handle the combined zinc plate and protective facing by means of said uncoated border portions, and also so that rolls of the typewriter may bear upon said border portions, and firmly hold the plate to the typewriterplaten, without; liability of the pressure causing any smudging of carbon upon the margins of the zinc plate. The facing is therefore a combined plate protecting and printing sheet, which is combined with the transpicuous template sheet, the latter being mounted firmly upon the zinc plate; the carbonized area of the protecting sheet being kept in its correct middle position with reference to the zinc plate.

The lack of strength and impressibility of the paper-thin zinc are overcome by placing it between a smooth platen and the facing of combined carbon-sheet and template sheet, which unite to cushion the harsh type-blows, and serve to prevent the sharp edges from cutting or even indenting the zinc.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawing,

Figure 1 shows the relation of a zinc or other metal plate, a paper-facing therefor under-faced with hard. carbon, said carbon-faced sheet provided with a soft carbon-coating upon its upper side, and a translucent template sheet. As shown sheet,

the means which fastens the zinc plate being not hand or stylus work; the template sheet to shown.

Figure 2 shows the paper-facing with a crossline at its upper end, which is a line upon which 5 the sheet may be folded to form a flap preparatory to attaching it over the top end of the zinc plate.

At Figure 2a. the carbon-coating extends the full width of the sheet. Top and bottom margins are uncoated on both upper and lower surfaces.

Figure 3 is a diagram to illustrate the separated elements, namely, the transpicuous template sheet, the facing sheet with its over-coat of soft carbon, and its under-coat of hard carbon, and the zinc plate.

Figure 4 shows one form of transpicuous sheet withover-width side borders that are folded around the side edges of the zinc plate, to hold fast thereto, to serve as a template sheet.

Upon the zinc or other lithographic metal plate 3 is placed a paper-sheet 2, which is under-surfaced with very hard lithographic carbon 5. The top of the paper is surfaced with very soft carbon 4. Said zinc-facing paper-sheet 2 is coated on one side with a very hard, sharp writing lithographic coating 5 of #7 hardness on the Neidich code of seven grades of hardness. On the other side this sheet is coated with a very soft carbon 4 (#1 on the Neidich code of hardness). This carbonized facing sheet so prepared is attached or assembled with a light-weight white transpicuous tissue paper I. Upon this there lies a translucent sheet, all as shown diagrammatically at Figure 1. Both paper-sheets may be of the same width as the zinc plate. Uncoated broad borders at the sides and also at the top and bottom of each surface of the carbon-sheet are indicated at A. The device at Figure 1 can be grasped by means of its border portions, without danger of the zinc plate being smudged by the carboncoating. Sheet 1 equals in width the carbonized sheet 2, covering or overlapping the uncoated borders on all four edges. The side uncoated borders may be omitted, as at Figure 2a. That is, the coating may be the entire width of the sheet on both surfaces.

The translucent sheet 1, which is used as a template, may be extended at its sides and folded around the ends of the zinc plate, as seen at 6, Figure 4. Other methods may be adopted for firmly securing the template to the zinc plate, so as to prevent relative displacement during the work of the artist and the typing operation. A firm joining of the template to the zinc plate can be effected at the leading end of the sheet, by folding it over the upper end of the plate 3, to hold them in proper relative positions during the passage of the assembly through the rolls of the ruling and typewriting machine. v

The invention includesvariation in the kinds of carbons in the opposite coatings. The best lithography is obtained through the use of hard carbon. The best visibility is secured through the use of very soft carbon for the reversed typing on the back of the transpicuous template For some kinds of work, the transpicuous template may be made to adhere to the carboncoated sheet through the entire length of the sheets on both side margins.

The manifolding nature of the carbon-coating 4 on the outer face of the carbon-sheet is improved by its softness, and its product is rendered easily visible through the transpicuous template sheet.

The hard quality of the lithographic carbon 5 renders it capable of repeated use. It does not need to be inseparably fixed to the zinc plate.

The carbonized facing 2 may be laid upon a fiat surface, with its hard carbon side up. Two inches of the head of the sheet may be folded over to 'make a flap, the fold line being indicated at B, Figure 2. Either end of the prepared lithographic zinc plate may be inserted under the flap C. The plate is placed face down upon the sheet, so that its grained side contacts with the hard carbon of the sheet. The assembled plate and sheets are inserted in a ribbonless typewriter machine, with the back of the plate supported by the platen; the plate being sufficiently thin to be rolled around the platen in the manner of a papersheet.

The upper and lower ends of the zinc plate, which may, if desired, have eye formations for insertion in the lithographic machine, are protected by the overlying template sheet from danger of becoming bent while inserting the same between the rolls of the typewriter.

A valuable feature of the invention is that the described paper...facing of carbonized and transpicuous sheets prevents the surface of the zinc plate from coming into contact with the feedrolls of the typewriter, thus eliminating the continual necessity for frequent cleaning of the feedrolls.

With the plate and sheet assembly inserted in the machine and backed up by the revoluble platen and properly held by conventional feed and guide rollers for line writing and line stacing movements the assembly may be acted upon by the types of the machine or by stvluse of any suitable construction. In the use of the stylus lines may be ruled both crosswise and up-anddown of the sheet. After the ruling has been done the operator may write by means of the usual types and this may be done without removing the paper-faced zinc plate from the machine. The typing may be done in as many locations as desired upon the paper-faced zinc plate; the operator being constantly conscious of the progress of the work, although the zinc plate 3 is hidden from view. The operator follows the work by the aid of the typewriting which is reversely made upon the back of the translucent sheet I by the soft carbon 4. The sheet I' maintains a fixed position upon the zinc plate, and, by-duplicating the zinc plate work with fidelity, enables the operator to place the typing in exact relation with the ruled lines that have previously been pressed upon the zinc plate. The work is in plain sight of the typist at all times although it is being done upon a hidden zinc plate.

Thus, the keys are operated and the types strike the white transpicuous tissue, the imprint of each character struck being immediately visible due to the soft-carbon printing in reverse on the under side of the tissue, which clearly shows through to the operator. The direct imprint from the hard lithographic carbon printing, taken on the zinc plate, is extremely sharp and well ada ted to the desired purpose.

The work produced on the lithograph machine from plates made according to this invention is superior to that obtained by previous typewriter duplicator processes. Economy is gained, and the necessity of employing paper ribbons or other special typewriting equipment is avoided.

The sheets I and 2 taken together form a protective covering for the delicate surface of the zinc plate 3. The zinc surface is also protected against scratching. There is also avoided the liability of smudging from natural grease present upon the hands of the user.

The folded tissues can be readily detached from the top of the zinc plate. The two-ply fold may be held firmly upon the plate by the thin clip Di In other words, the uncarbonized border of the paper-facing 2 may be folded around the top of the zinc plate, and the transpicuous sheet may also be folded around, making the fold two-ply, before introducing the same into the typewriter; and the clips may then be put in place upon the folds.

The invention also overcomes an inherent deficiency of the proposed carbon-paper ribbon, by furnishing a faithful copy of the image and typewritten data pressed upon the zinc plate 3, which, after being used in lithographing, may be stored for future use, while its t ssue duplicate i is always available for office filing.

At Figure 2a the carbon-coating is applied upon the full width of the sheet, leaving no uncoated side margins. This description applies to the coating on both upper and lower surfaces of the sheet. The uncoated top and bottom margins are sufficient for the purposes hereinabove set forth. The transpicuous sheet may be pasted upon the upper uncoated margin of the transfer sheet, and the latter may be folded over at the line B, to make a loop to catch upon the metal plate 3.

The sheet 2 may have one of its coatings 6 or 5 surrounded by margins on all sides, as at Figure 2, and the other side of the same sheet may have the carbon extend the full width of the sheet, as at Figure 2a. Or, if preferred, both' sides of the sheet may have the carbon coat the full breadth of the sheet, leaving only top and bottom uncoated margins.

Variations may be resorted to Within the scope of the invention, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A device for use in the preparation of lithographic copy, comprising a sheet having on both its front and back surfaces a transfer medium adapted to give off under .pressure to sheets in contact therewith, and a transpicuous sheet attached to the first said sheet overlying its front surface and adapted to be directly contacted by typewriter type or a stylus and receive thereby an image from the transfer medium which is capable of being read through the transpicuous sheet.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1 in which the transpicuous sheet extends at one end beyond the sheet having the transfer medium to thus provide a margin for attachment to a lithographic form.

3. A device for use in the preparation of lithographic copy, comprising a sheet having on its back surface a transfer medium of a relatively hard carbon formula suitable for transfer to a lithographic sheet of metal such as zinc and having on its front-surface a transfer medium of a relatively soft carbon formula adapted to give off a distinct image to the rear surface of a transpicuous sheet which image may be clearly read through the transpicuous sheet, and said transpicuous sheet related with the first said sheet to overlie the front surface thereof.

4. In means for inscribing a reduplicative sheet through a sharply inking but inscription hiding medium, and for rendering a tell-tale copy of the hidden inscriptions to automatically apprise the operator visually of the inscriptions as they are being made out of sight on the reduplicative sheet, the combination of a transpicuous facing sheet attachable to the reduplicative sheet, and a carbon paper backing attached to said transpicuous facing sheet for disposition between said transpicuous facing sheet and the reduplicative sheet, said backing having a coating of hard carbon on a surface thereof in contact with the reduplicative sheet and a coating of relatively soft carbon on a surface thereof in contact with the under side of said transpicuous facing sheet whereby, upon working upon said transpicuous facing sheet with an inscriptive instrument the inscription is produced upon the reduplicative sheet through said carbon backing, and the latter also produces a. duplicate of the inscription in reverse upon the back of the transpicuous facing sheet to serve as a tell-tale.

SAMUEL A. NEIDICH. 

